The 2020- 2021 off season is barely underway and already there are strong signs that teams are heading into the winter with tightened budgets and checkbooks stashed away. Just six potential free agents will receive qualifying offers of $18.9 million, and only three potential free agents had their club options exercised for the 2021 season.
Five days have passed since the end of the 2020 World Series, which marks the deadline for clubs to make qualifying offers to potential free agents if they hope to receive compensation should those players sign with a new club. The same deadline applies to clubs who wish to exercise club options.